“Cachoeira” (Ronnie Von, 1984)
Ronnie Von with Vinicius de Moraes (1967)
The delightfully named Ronaldo Lindenberg Von Schilgem Cintra Nogueira (no wonder he took the professional name above!) turns 81 today. Here is a translation of his oh-so-1980s “Cachoeira.” The extended metaphor(s) that make up this song lead me to offer a vocabulary word in Portuguese: “brega” which translates as “cheesy” or “kitschy” and it’s a word anyone will understand as soon as they listen to this (quite) popular song, which marked a resurgence of Von’s career.
“Cachoeira”
Tantos mistérios pra desvendar
Nas manhãs que abrem teu coração
Nesse teu corpo de mel
E luar!
Cada dia semear a mais linda canção
Pra colher as estrelas do céu
Nesses teus olhos de mar
E luar!
Teu amor é cachoeira
Que levou meu coração
Nas águas de um rio de sonhos
Que desperta em tuas mãos!
Cada dia semear a mais linda canção
Pra colher as estrelas do céu
Nesses teus olhos de mar
E luar!
“Waterfall”
So many mysteries to uncover
On the mornings that open your heart
In that body of yours made of honey
And moonlight!
Every day seeding the most beautiful song
To harvest the stars from the heavens
In those eyes of yours made of sea
And moonlight!
Your love is a waterfall
That took my heart
In the waters of a river of dreams
That awakens in your hands!
Every day seeding the most beautiful song
To harvest the stars from the heavens
In those eyes of yours made of sea
And moonlight!